Syria's Oil Diplomacy: Kurdish-led Cooperation with Damascus

Kurdish-led authorities in northeast Syria have started supplying oil from local fields to the central government in Damascus. This marks the first known transfer to the Islamist-run government since Bashar al-Assad's ousting. The oil trade is central to negotiations between the northeast region and Damascus, amid evolving sanctions dynamics.

Kurdish-led authorities in northeast Syria have initiated the transfer of oil from fields they manage to the central government in Damascus, according to Syrian oil ministry spokesman Ahmed Suleiman.

This marks the first known delivery of oil from Syria's resource-rich northeast to the current administration in Damascus that took power following the rebellion against former leader Bashar al-Assad. Details regarding the volume or terms of the deal remain undisclosed.

The U.S. and EU are easing some sanctions related to the energy sector, which has played a critical role in the discussions between the semi-autonomous northeast and Damascus authorities. While talks are ongoing, the Kurdish forces may need to concede control over oil revenue distribution for a broader political settlement.